Varsity Blues swimmers Frank Despond and Bridget Coley believe that Toronto has what it takes to host the 2015 Pan American Games. Despond and Coley both competed for Canada at the 2011 Pan American Games, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from October 14–21.
The international sporting event was a pivotal moment in both swimmers’ careers; it was the largest international event either athlete had attended. I sat down with both swimmers to learn about their individual experiences in Guadalajara and their thoughts on Toronto as the host of the next Pan American Games.
Despond competed in a variety of freestyle events at the Games. In his individual events, he finished ninth overall in the 400-metre freestyle, and 12th overall in the 200-metre freestyle. Despond also swam the 4 x 100-metre freestyle relay, where his team came in seventh and the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay in which they finished sixth. As with many elite swimmers, Despond is eager to compete for a spot at the 2012 Olympic games, and believes that the 4×200 freestyle is his “best shot.”
Fellow Varsity Blue Bridget Coley represented Canada in her main event, the 800-metre freestyle, and also in the 400-metre freestyle. Coley finished tenth in the longer race and one place further behind in the 400-metre.
As the 2011 Pan American games drew closer, reports of sanitation and security concerns arose. Though a number of athletes pulled out of the games, Despond and Coley were nevertheless eager to represent Canada at the senior level. Both athletes remarked on the strong military presence at the event. Despond said he felt safe with “a police presence of such magnitude,” and Coley said she “never felt at risk.”
“When we got there everything was not finished,” said Bridget Coley of the Athletes Village, noting the lack of hot water. While there were some initial queries, both athletes found the village to be “well kept and new,” and they “never felt in a dirty environment.”
The only major complaint was the limited food options. This became an issue for Despond, who suffered from food poisoning in the early days of competition. Training at high altitude causes athletes’ hunger to be surpressed, but a balanced diet is still a crucial component of any athletes training regime.
“The pool facilities were amazing,” noted Frank Despond. Days before the event, Despond worried that he wouldn’t be able to race at all; the stands at the aquatic facility had not been finished. However, round-the-clock construction meant that “everything was finished at the last minute.” Despite initially wariness, Despond changed his mind quickly and said “[It was] the best pool I have ever swum in.”
Both athletes agreed that Toronto has the ability to host great games when its turn with the Pan-Am Games arrives in 2015. Despond hopes negative media attention about the financing of 2015 games will not overshadow Toronto’s potential as a host city.
Both athletes are worried about the crowd turnout and the media attention the 2015 games will receive. “Canada isn’t very good at putting competitions of that level on television,” Colley said. Both swimmers agreed that the country has a bias towards supporting certain sports. Only the opening and closing ceremonies and some sporadic highlights of the Guadalajara games were televised within Canada.
With their first senior level competition behind them, both athletes are training for the 2012 Olympic trials. While the 2015 Games are a few years away, Despond and Coley are already keen. Coley said it would be an honour “to compete for Canada on Canadian soil and have the whole crowd behind you.”
